Toxicology Commons^™

Protective Effects Of Jujube Seed Extract Against Oxidative Stress In Ht22 Cells And Its Sleep-Promoting Action Through Gabaergic Receptors, Seok Hyun Chung, Hyeongyeong Kim, Singeun Kim, Pan-Young Jeong, Hyowon Lee

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Jujube seed extract (JSE), rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, exhibits neuroprotective and sleep-enhancing properties.In vitro, JSE protected HT22 cells against oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and upregulatingantioxidant enzymes. In vivo, JSE increased non-REM sleep and delta wave activity in pentobarbital- and caffeine-induced sleep models. Spinosin contributed to these effects. Long-term JSE administration upregulated GABAA, GABAB, and 5-HT1A receptors in brain tissue. These findings suggest that JSE offers dual benefits in mitigating oxidativestress and promoting sleep through antioxidant defense and neurotransmitter modulation, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent.

Repurposing Dihydroartemisinin As A Novel Anticancer Agent Against Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells, Meng-Han Wu, Chieh-Ju Sung, Fan-Lu Kung, Jih-Hwa Guh, Yu Su, Lih-Ching Hsu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death globally and discovering novel therapeuticagents to treat the disease, and prevent cancer metastasis and recurrence is an urgent medical need. Cancer stem cells(CSCs) capable of self-renewal and differentiation are generally considered the cause of tumor metastasis, recurrenceand chemoresistance. Hence, targeting CSCs may be a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer. GATA6, a zincfinger transcription factor, contributes to tumorigenesis in CRC and is related to cancer stemness. GATA6-overexpressing stable clones OE4 and OE6 derived from HCT116 cells were previously established and exhibitedincreased stemness properties. In this study, we …

Yi-Qi-Xuan-Fei Formula Ameliorate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease By Remodeling Lung And Intestinal Florase In Rat Models, Si-Si Han, Li-Yun Song, Peng-Tao Liang, Yin-Ying Wang, Yi Ying, Li Li, Jia-Li Yuan, Zhong-Shan Yang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by various pathologicallesions and an imbalance in the microflora. The Yi-Qi-Xuan-Fei Formula (YQXF) is a clinically effective formula withpharmacological potential to delay the progression of COPD. This study aims to explore the relationship between thetherapeutic mechanism of YQXF and the microflora in COPD. Our study found that YQXF reduces inflammatory injuryand inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue, repairs the intestinal mucosal barrier, and enhances immune function.Additionally, YQXF regulates the pulmonary and intestinal flora by increasing the abundance of Alloprevotella, Rose-buria, Oscillibacter, and Lactobacillus, while reducing the abundance of …

Precision Nanomedicine For Anxiety: Challenges, Opportunities, And Future Directions In Targeted Drug Delivery, Sehrabpreet Singh, Amanpreet Singh, Shruti Chittu, Shailesh Sharma

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery system represents one of the challenging strategies suggested to improve anxietydisorder therapeutic approaches, clinic challenges of delayed action, side effect-free designing and poor patientcompliance. Traditional pharmacological agents can increase drug bioavailability and target specific brain regions,whereas nanoparticle-mediated controlled release offers enhanced precision and sustained action. The others in thisreview concentrate on several kinds of nanoparticle, including lipid-based, polymeric-metallic, and responsive nano-particles, their use in anxiety medication. In addition, emphasis is placed on precision medicine that pertain the delivery of treatment based on an individual's genetic, environmental and lifestyle aspects. Also, it is looked into how artificial intelligence …

The Rhythm Of Decline: Circadian Disruption In Neurodegeneration, Jeewanjot Singh, Devinder Kumar, Jasleen Kaur, Amanpreet Singh

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a multifactorial etiology involving genetic,environmental, and metabolic factors. Among these, circadian rhythm disruption has emerged as a crucial but under-explored contributor to disease progression. The circadian system, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN),controls essential physiological functions such as the sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, and neuroendocrine signaling.Disruption of this system has been increasingly linked to key pathological features of AD, including amyloid-betaaccumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation. This review critically examines the mechanistic roleof circadian misalignment in AD by analyzing studies on sleep disturbances, SCN degeneration, metabolic dysregu-lation, clock gene polymorphisms (BMAL1, CLOCK, PER, …

Targeted Nanosponge-Based Treatment For Pulmonary Hypertension: A Novel Approach, Jashanpreet Kaur, Gursimran Kaur, Chamanpreet Kaur, Sandeep Kumar

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a progressive and potentially fatal condition marked by high pulmonary arterypressure, resulting in heart failure and reduced oxygenation. Despite advancements in treatments, therapeutic optionsfor PH remain limited, particularly in cases resistant to conventional therapies. In biomedical research, nanotechnologyhas become a potential area of study, presenting novel approaches to drug delivery and tissue targeting. Nanosponges, aclass of nanoparticles with porous structures, have gained attention for their ability to encapsulate therapeutic agents,enhance drug stability, and provide controlled release. Nanosponges can be engineered to deliver vasodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, and gene therapies directly to the pulmonary vasculature, minimizing systemic side …

In Vivo And In Vitro Perspectives In Parkinson's Disease: Mechanisms And The Role Of Phytomedicine, Jeewanjot Singh, Devinder Kumar

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by dopaminergic neuronal loss,oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and a-synuclein aggregation. Despite advances, current treatments only offersymptomatic relief without altering disease progression. This review aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of plant-derived phytochemicals in PD through evidence from both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Key findingsindicate that rodent models (e.g., MPTP, rotenone) and neuronal cell lines (e.g., SH-SY5Y) help replicate PD pathologyand mechanistic insights. Phytochemicals such as baicalein, morin, ferulic acid, and bacopa demonstrate neuroprotectiveeffects via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mitochondrial-stabilizing pathways. Nanotechnology and brain orga-noids further improve translational relevance. In conclusion, …

Global Research Trends On Avocado Oil And Its Fatty Acid Composition: A Bibliometric Review, Ahmad Kamrullah Aras, Abdul Rohman

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The high content of unsaturated fatty acids in avocado oil (Persea americana) has prompted in-depth exploration across research subjects. This study uses bibliometric analysis to assess global research trends on avocado oil and its fatty acid composition from 2004 to 2024. The search string retrieved 255 articles from the Scopus database and then analyzed using R BibliometriX and VOSviewer software. These tools analyze descriptive structures and collaborative patterns and create network data maps. For comparison, we separated the data into two research periods, namely 2004-2013 and 2014-2024. There was a significant increase in the number of publications, with …

Mechanistic Rationale For Toxic Aerosol Formation From Vaping And Dabbing With A Focus On Ketene Formation From Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids, Kaelas Ryan Munger

Dissertations and Theses

Cannabis vaping is a relatively new route of administration that is increasingly common among youth and young adults. Cannabis vaping has been associated with cases of acute lung injury, especially among youth, and most often involves the heating and aerosolization of high-potency products having cannabinoid concentrations of ~ 50 % - 98 % w/w. Proponents argue that vaping is safer than smoking due to the characteristically lower temperatures and fewer plant materials. However, the extreme cannabinoid concentrations, along with non-natural formulations having undisclosed additives, require studies of the health effects of these products. Despite the popularity of cannabis concentrate vaping, …

Exploring Potential Impacts Of Polyethylene Mesh And Polypropylene Rope Leachate On Bay Scallop (Argopecten Irradians) Survival And Growth, Katherine R. Johnson

Graduate Masters Theses

The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), a commercially and ecologically significant bivalve along the Eastern coast of the United States, has faced severe population declines due to various anthropogenic impacts. At the same time, the proliferation of plastics, particularly in maritime industries, has introduced new threats to marine environments through both physical pollution and chemical leaching. This study aimed to assess the acute toxicological effects of leachates from two commonly used plastic products, polyethylene Netron and polypropylene rope, on A. irradians larvae. Experiments were conducted in June–July 2023 at the Nantucket Shellfish Hatchery. Leachates were prepared by incubating 0.5, …

Effects Of Oil Spill Response Agents On Scleractinan Corals Acropora Cervicornis And Porites Divaricata, Austin Blakeslee

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Coral reefs are biodiverse coastal ecosystems at risk of exposure to spilled oil; spills reaching shorelines can damage corals, mangroves, and many other species in nearshore shallow-water tropical environments. Efforts to remediate such spills have evolved over the years through the introduction of various chemical response agents that efficiently and effectively control the spread of oil. Chemical herding agents and dispersants, which can contain and control the oil spread, are promising additions to the spill response toolbox as potential alternatives to other response methods. These response agents are designed to be biodegradable and minimize potential harm to aquatic ecosystems. However, …

Acute Toxicity Of Arsenate And Arsenite In Two Scleractinian Coral Species: Acropora Cervicornis And Orbicella Faveolata, Cailey Dorman

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Inorganic arsenic (As), specifically arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) are well-documented toxicants to a range of marine organisms. However, their specific impacts on coral reef species remain largely unstudied. This study is the first to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of inorganic arsenic on two threatened scleractinian coral species, Acropora cervicornis and Orbicella faveolata. Corals were exposed for 96 hours to five analytically verified concentrations and a negative control of either arsenate or arsenite. Toxicity was evaluated through three endpoints: mortality (LC50), coral condition (EC50), and photosynthetic efficiency (IC50). The lethal concentrations to result in 50% mortality (LC50) …

Methodology For Environmental Toxicology: Assessing Feeding And Rearing Strategies In Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Nigricans) Larvae, Amber Hitchins, Hannah Mcneese, Deise Cruz, Andrew Todd, Maria Sepúlveda, Tyler Hoskins

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an anthropogenic group of chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and their potential to bioaccumulate. PFAS can bioaccumulate in largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans), yet the effects of exposure on bass larvae are unknown. While largemouth bass are commonly raised for aquaculture, techniques for rearing bass which enable controlled experiments at known densities, a necessity for toxicity studies, are poorly understood. Furthermore, the live prey typically used in existing approaches are not suitable for PFAS studies due to high background concentrations. The objective of this project was to assess different venues …

Integration Of Mechanism-Driven Computational Modeling And Public Data Resources For Chemical Toxicity Assessment, Elena Chung

Theses and Dissertations

Regulatory toxicology depends primarily on animal testing, which limits throughput, mechanistic interpretability, and applicability to human-relevant endpoints. This dissertation presents computational approaches that integrate publicly available bioactivity data with machine learning to support chemical safety evaluation. Oral carcinogenicity was modeled using curated chemicals from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and activity data from over 1,900 PubChem assays. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models trained on statistically prioritized assays demonstrated strong predictive performance and were applied to rank the carcinogenic potential of more than 16,000 compounds. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a hybrid modeling approach that combined structural …

Yiqi Yangyin Tongluo Prescription Targets Lncrna Vim-As1 To Regulate Foxk2/Mtor To Promote Autophagy And Inhibit Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Apoptosis, Rucui Yu, Ruiying Wu, Tingting Chen, Jingwei Xu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one dominating reason for death in diabetic patients, and its incidence is high. It has been reported that Yiqi Yangyin Tongluo prescription (YYTP) can relieve inflammation, and it owns better clinical effects in the treatment of DN. However, the molecular mechanisms of YYTP in the treatment of DN still keep unclear, and deeply investigations are needed. In this study, it firstly was manifested that YYTP can repress the lncRNA VIM-antisense 1 (VIM-AS1) expression in high glucose (HG)-evoked HK-2 cells. Overexpression of VIM-AS1 roll-backed the inhibitive impacts of YYTP on cell apoptosis in HG-triggered HK-2 cells. Additionally, …

Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab In Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights From Taiwan, Tsung-Wei Chang, Wei-Chiao Chang, Wan-Hsuan Chou, Wei-Pin Chang, Chun-Nan Kuo

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Following the observed significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival in clinical trials, the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has been recommended as a first-line therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite its clinical benefits, the high cost associated with this treatment poses a substantial challenge in routine practice in Taiwan. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in comparison to sorafenib monotherapy. This study utilized partitioned survival analysis and extrapolated survival over a 20-year horizon to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of the National Health Insurance Administration. Efficacy and utility data …

Ping-Chong-Jiang-Ni Formula Effectively Inhibits Migration And Invasion Of Endometriosis 12z Cell Line Via Trip13, Jiahua Peng, Shuzhen Liu, Yunxiang Xie, Min Xiao, Chichiu Wang, Ruining Liang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The Ping-Chong-Jiang-Ni Formula (PCJNF), a compound of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has demonstrated remarkable clinical effectiveness and is widely utilized in the treatment of endometriosis (EMs). Previous studies have shown that PCJNF inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) by modulating the JNK signaling pathway. In our most recent study, published in January 2024, we found that PCJNF effectively alleviates EMs-associated pain by reducing inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Furthermore, PCJNF down-

regulates the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), phosphorylated TRPV1 (p-TRPV1), and protein …

In Vitro Metabolic Profiling Of Methylenedioxy-Substituted Synthetic Cathinones For Enhanced Detection In Urine Sample Analysis, Ya-Ling Yeh, Chin-Lin Hsieh, Yi-Jia Huang, Yu-Hsiang Chang, Sheng-Meng Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Synthetic cathinones are a widely abused class of new psychoactive substances that pose significant challenges in forensic toxicology owing to their complex metabolic pathways and lack of verified reference standards. This study investigated the in vitro metabolism of nine methylenedioxy-substituted synthetic cathinones, including methylone and eight structural isomers, which were categorized into three groups: Group 1 (dimethylone, ethylone, and butylone), Group 2 (dibutylone, pentylone, and eutylone), and Group 3 (N-ethylpentylone and dipentylone). Pooled human liver microsomes, cytosol, and uridine diphosphate glucuronic acid were used to identify phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolites by liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Key pathways included …

Integrating Network Analysis And Experimental Validation To Reveal The Ferroptosis-Associated Mechanism Of Velvet Antler In The Treatment Of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis, Quan Liao, Zhenzhen Guo, Chenchun Ding, Renjie Zuo, Guoyan Liu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is precancerosis with limited treatment options. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of velvet antler (VA), a traditional natural medicine, on CAG, with a focus on ferroptosis. In vivo experiments demonstrated the efficacy of VA in alleviating CAG, and network pharmacology analysis revealed its involvement in related terms, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation. Analyses further confirmed the modulation of ferroptosis by VA, particularly via the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 pathway. In vitro assays supported these findings, demonstrating the ability of VA to reduce methylnitronitrosoguanidine-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in GES-1. This study provides a basis for …

Jiao San Xian Granule Containing Prebiotic Alleviate Functional Dyspepsia By Regulating Intestinal Flora And The Secretion Of Inflammatory Response, Huimin Pei, Mengyuan Zhao, Hongyue Wang, Xindi Zhang, Caihong Shi, Xiangrong Zhang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Jiao Sanxian (JSX) consists of three traditional Chinese medicine including charred hawthorn, malt and Liu Shen Qu, they are also from Chinese medicine homologous food. It is commonly used to relieve functional dyspepsia (FD). The present study aims to explore the mechanism of JSX (granule), with the addition of prebiotics for the treatment of FD using mice model. The network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to forecast therapeutic targets for JSX. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) results, thirteen targets exhibited strong interactions with each other. The results of network pharmacology and molecular docking revealed therapeutic activity of JSX …